19 JUNE 2025 FACT RECORDER
Sports Desk: The much-anticipated 5-match Test series between India and England is set to begin on June 20, with the first Test taking place at Leeds. While Team India has yet to announce their playing XI, England has already revealed theirs. However, before the series kicks off, England has received some crucial advice—to apply common sense during the matches.
This advice comes from former England captain Geoffrey Boycott, known for his straightforward opinions. Boycott expressed his concerns about England’s current “bazball” approach, which has been prominent since the COVID-19 period when Ben Stokes became captain and Brendon McCullum took over as coach. Although this aggressive style of play has entertained fans, Boycott feels it has not translated into enough Test victories for England.
In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott urged England to move away from the bazball mindset and focus on winning matches and qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final. He stated that England can defeat India if they prioritize common sense on the field. While the bazball approach has made cricket exciting and thrilling, it has also resulted in numerous drawn matches, with England failing to secure enough wins.
Boycott also highlighted England’s embarrassment in failing to qualify for any of the last three WTC finals, all held in England. In contrast, India and Australia have qualified twice each for the WTC finals, while New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa have won once each. England’s reliance on bazball has not helped them achieve this milestone yet.
Boycott’s message is clear: England should put aside their showmanship and focus on practical cricket that wins games. It’s time to abandon the bazball experiment and adopt common sense if they want to succeed against India and in the larger Test arena.
